Officials cannot grasp citizens’ struggles at Hulhumalé Hospital: Ghalib

Ahmed Ghalib, the Male' City Council member for the South Hulhumale' constituency, has stated that the Maldives' healthcare system has deteriorated to an unprecedented low since the current administration took office.

Speaking on Raajje TV’s "Fala Surukhee" program, Ghalib severely criticized the current administration, alleging significant negligence toward the healthcare sector.

Ghalib stated that one of the administration's primary campaign pledges was to provide permanent, "total solutions" to issues rather than shifting blame onto the previous government. However, he noted that the current reality is quite the opposite, highlighting that the challenges facing Hulhumalé Hospital are far more severe than initially anticipated.

Ghalib stated that while the population of  Hulhumalé is growing at a rapid pace, the government is failing to take any action to provide healthcare services commensurate with that growth. He further noted that senior government officials remain oblivious to the hardships and struggles faced by citizens seeking medical care at Hulhumale Hospital.

The issues facing Hulhumalé Hospital are far more extensive than one might imagine. Despite the rapid growth of the population in Hulhumalé, the government has failed to ensure that the hospital’s services keep pace with this expansion. Senior government officials seem oblivious to the hardships endured by citizens seeking medical care at the facility. This lack of empathy likely stems from the fact that these officials enjoy privileged access to services. For an ordinary citizen, seeing a doctor requires waiting for several hours, and even those in need of urgent emergency care are subjected to the same grueling ordeal. Under the current administration, the healthcare system has deteriorated to an unprecedented level, marking the most significant failure of the medical sector in the country's history.

Ahmed Ghalib, Male' City Council Member for the Hulhumale' South Constituency

Elaborating further on the Maldives' healthcare system, Ghalib stated that since this administration took office, the system has failed to a degree unprecedented in the country's history. He noted that this issue is not confined to Hulhumalé Hospital alone, highlighting that citizens seeking services at IGMH are also facing immense hardships.

Furthermore, Ghalib noted that patients often face delays of several days just to secure a doctor's appointment after registering. He added that even for critical diagnostic procedures such as MRIs, it takes several months to get them done at government hospitals. He further stated that these difficulties have left many citizens with no choice but to seek medical treatment from private clinics and hospitals.

Ghalib expressed concern that the high costs associated with seeking services from private facilities are further impoverishing the general public. He noted that while the healthcare system has deteriorated to such an extent, the government is failing to give adequate attention to the people's grievances.